PIC SHOWS: (back, l-r) Pam Hegner, McCabe World Travel; Marnie Williamson, Travel Untethered – The Travel Society; Kim Hooker, KVH Travel; Natalie Bagwell Payne, The Calliope Collective; Olivia Frawley, Tourism Ireland; Michael Brennan and Rachel Clifford, both Killarney Hotels Collection; Pete Maniscalco, High Access Travel; (front, l-r) Ellen Hyman, Travelong of Summit; Kim Rickels, Black Label Travel – Montecito Village Travel; Jessica Griscavage, Runway Travel – Departure Lounge; and Kelly Millington, Kelly Millington Travel, at The Europe Hotel & Resort.
Ten (10) travel agents from the US, all specialising in luxury holidays, are visiting Ireland this week, as guests of Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and The Calliope Collective (a sales representation service for independent luxury hotels). They are here to experience some of our top luxury hotels, including Dylan Hotel, The K Club, The Europe Hotel & Resort and Dromoland Castle.
The aim of the visit is to showcase our superb luxury tourism offering, so that when the travel agents return to the US, they will be better informed and more enthusiastic than ever about Ireland when advising their clients about planning and booking their holidays here. As well as the luxury hotels, the action-packed itinerary also includes EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Windmill Lane Recording Studios, a walking tour of Dublin, K Golf World, the Cliffs of Moher and The Burren Perfumery.
Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s Head of North America, said: “We’re delighted these travel agents took time out of their busy schedules to come and experience our luxury tourism offering – including our boutique hotels and luxury resorts – and see for themselves what Ireland has to offer their clients. Our aim is that when they return home, they will be more knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the destination, helping to secure a greater share of their business for Ireland.”
The United States remains an extremely important market for tourism to the island of Ireland. In 2019, we welcomed 1.7 million American visitors, whose visits delivered €1.6 billion to the economy.
